The mother of a woman murdered in the Bondi Junction stabbing attack has joined mental health advocates at Parliament House urging federal, state and territory governments to urgently reform Australia’s mental health system. Elizabeth Young was part of a roundtable led by Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and the Black DogContinue Reading
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has handed down his fifth budget, revealing a raft of cost-of-living relief measures for Queenslanders to the tune of $11.2bn. A major feature is a $1000 rebate on electricity bills that will be coupled with a $300 rebate announced by the federal government and paid quarterly.Continue Reading
Australians have more pet cats than ever before — more than five million in total. With the growing number, expectations on pet owners are shifting. Many cat owners are now voluntarily keeping their cats indoors or in secure runs, and local governments mandate it in some areas. But most petContinue Reading
The Reserve Bank could deliver a rate cut by Christmas if fresh inflation forecasts from the federal budget prove correct, but billions of dollars of additional spending unveiled by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday evening could risk stoking price pressures. Updated inflation forecasts show consumer price growth could return withinContinue Reading
Labor will funnel $227m into opening 29 more urgent care clinics across the country, as part of a broader multi-billion dollar health package in Tuesday’s budget. Despite a slow start to the rollout and ongoing concerns about opening hours, there have been almost 400,000 visits to the 58 bulk-billed clinicsContinue Reading
The Albanese government will unveil an $11.3bn housing package, predominantly designed to boost the supply of social and affordable homes, as a centrepiece of its May 14 budget. In a tacit admission that its effort to alleviate Australia’s acute housing crisis had not been enough, Labor will inject billions ofContinue Reading
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has batted away concerns that a cash splash by state and territory governments is undermining the efforts of the federal government and the Reserve Bank to halt a resurgence in inflationary pressures. Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Dr Chalmers welcomed initiatives by state and territory governments toContinue Reading
Labor’s ambitious target to build 1.2 million new homes over the next five years “will not be achieved”, according to a new government report that lays bare the reality of Australia’s housing crisis. The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council has handed its inaugural annual report to Housing Minister JulieContinue Reading
For many motorists, one of the most striking features of driving an electric car for the first time is the uncanny silence. But while a reduction in road noise may be a positive, advocates for the blind and low-vision community have long warned of the danger these heavy, silent carsContinue Reading
Victorians have tens of millions of dollars sitting unclaimed on the state government’s books. Some eye-watering sums have been revealed, as the state government combs through the Victorian Unclaimed Money Register ahead of the state budget next month. Treasurer Tim Pallas said everyone should check the State Revenue Office registerContinue Reading